Packaging machine



April 20, 1943. s. R. HOWARD PACKAGING MACHI NE Filed Feb. 25, 1942 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR M 1?. kw: BY

ATTORNE April 1943- s. R. HOWARD 2,316,867

PACKAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 25, 1942 J06 J42 J40INVENTOR (I? M BY QMQW ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE PACKAGING MACHINE Stanley E. Howard, Milton, Mass.,aSSignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application February 25, 1942, Serial No.432,224

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a packaging machine and more particularly to abottom sealing machine for sealing the bottom flaps of cartons.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improvedpackaging machine of the character specified, capable of continuousoperation at a relatively high rate of speed and in which provision ismade for applying substantial pressure in a novel manner to the closedand sealed bottom fiaps of a carton to firmly set the same during thecontinuous operation of the machine.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the packaging machine and in thevarious structures, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly defined in the claims at the end of thisspecification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bottom sealing machine embodying the present'invention; and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the pressureapplyin mechanism, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel and improvedsealing machine adapted to close and seal the flaps of cartons while thelatter are continuously conveyed through the machine, and, in whichprovision is made for applying substantial pressure to the closed andsealed flaps to firmly set the same during the continuous movement ofthe cartons. In the preferred embodiment of the invention provision ismade for supporting the cartons in carton holding pockets mounted upon acontinuously moving carrier chain and with the top and bottom flaps ofthe carton extending beyond the top and bottom respectively of thepocket. The cartons thus held are advanced past flap closing andadhesive applying mechanism for adhesively securing together the bottomflaps of the carton. In order to firmly press and set the adhesivelysealed flaps, pressure applying mechanism of novel and improvedstructure is provided, and, in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention such pressure applying mechanism comprises a verticallyreciprocal plunger or forming block arranged to be introduced into theopen end of the continuously moving carton and to be moved alongtherewith. The plunger thus inserted is arranged to cooperate with acontinuously moving bottom plate to effect substantial pressure upon thefolded and sealed bottom flaps while the carton is supported in thecarton holding pocket. Thereupon, the plunger is removed from the cartonand the latter is discharged from the machine to be delivered tosubsequent machines for filling and top closing the cartons.

Referring now to the drawings, in general, the different features of theinvention have been shown for illustrative purposes as embodied in apackaging machine in which provision is made for feeding collapsedcartons from a stack or supply thereof and for opening successivecartons and deliverin them into successive carton holding devicesforming a part of a continuously travelling endless conveyer. The latterfunctions to present the cartons to successive operating stations Wherethe extended bottom flaps of the cartons are supplied with adhesive andclosed while the cartons are held and continuously advanced by thecarton holding devices on the conveyer. Thereafter, successive cartonsare presented to pressure applying mechanism by which the closed andsealed bottom flaps are firmly set in their operative position. Thebottom sealed cartons are then automatically discharged from the machineonto an outgoing conveyer which may deliver the cartons to subsequentmachines for filling the cartons, and for closing and sealing the topflaps to complete the packaging operation.

As herein shown, the illustrated machine includes continuously drivenconveyer chains Ill provided with a plurality of spaced carton holdingand gripping members I 2 adapted to receive opened cartons from cartonfeeding mechanism indicated generally at M and to operatively supportthe cartons with their top and bottom flaps in open condition.

The carton feeding mechanism 54 may comprise any usual or preferred formof carton feeding mechanism now upon the market, such as is illustratedin the United States patent to Robinson No. 1,599,248, dated September7, 1926. Such mechanism essentially comprises a magazine for holding asupply of collapsed cartons It in a vertical position. Provision ismade, during the operation of the machine, for withdrawing the endmostcollapsed carton from the stack, opening it, and introducing it into oneof the carton holding devices or pockets l2 upon the continuously movingchains l0. Inasmuch as the details of the carton feeding mechanism initself form no part of the present invention, reference is made to theabove patent for a further and more complete disclosure and descriptionthereof.

As herein illustrated, each pocket l2 includes a relatively fixed arm I8 extended from a bracket 20 carried by the chains Ill, and a movablearm 22 pivotally mounted upon 'a stud 24 in the bracket 25. Thepivotally mounted arm 22 is normally held in engagement with the side ofthe carton by a spring 26 in order to retain the carton firmly in thepocket. As herein shown, a stationary cam 28 disposed adjacent the chainI is arranged to cooperate with a roller 30 carried by an extension 32of the arm 22 in order to open the pocket at the discharge station,indicated generally at 34, to permit the carton to be removed. The campiece 28 is extended to hold the pocket in its open position until itpasses the carton feeding station I4 whereupon the arm 22 is againclosed 'upon the thus deposited carton.

The carrier chains I0, as herein shown, are arranged to run over doublesprockets 36,38 and are continuously driven throughconn'e'ctions from aworm 40, and worm *gear 42, see Fig. 2, the worm shaft 44 being rotatedthrough any usual or preferred driving connections, now shown. The wormgear 42 is rotatably mounted .upon-a central stationary-shaft-48,=thewormgear having secured thereto a hollow shaft 50 upon which the doublesprocket 36 is keyed.

The cartonthus held with its top and bottom fiaps extended is movedthrough the-fiap holding and adhesive applying. mechanism. indicated=generally'at 52 where thelnarrow-end flaps-are tucked and folded in,the side flaps'spread outwardly and provided with adhesive, and thenfolded inwardly to'close the flaps as the carton is continuously movedtherethrough. As herein shown, the flap folding and adhesive applyingmechanism 52 includes -a stationary rail :having flared edges, 54,56=arranged toengage and spread 1' 15,235 .herein shown, is fast upon ashort shaft Hand is arranged to be continuously rotated in timedrelation to the advance of the cartons through connections including achain and .sprocketdrive 16, shaft I8, and bevel 'ige'ars 80, '82, thelatter being -fa'ston a-shaft 84 to'which the double sprocket 38 isfixed.

As illustrated in Fig. -1,-the 'outspread :side flaps 58,60 arearranged-topass-over adhesive applying rollers 85, 86 mounted uponashaft 90 arranged to be rotated through a chain and sprocket 'drive 92;connected tov "the shaft 7 10. The rotation of therollers 86, 88 issuch that the surface speedthereof is equal to the forward movement ofthe cartonsyvhereby to provide a uniform film of adhesive to theinnerisurface -of each sidefiap Thereupon, as 'the'cartons progressthrough the'fiap foldin gand 'adhesive applying mechanism,'the'sideflaps 58,60 aresuccessively 1 engaged and folded upon the bottom of thecarton by stationary curved *rails .94, Siito completethegfoldingandsealing operation in preparation for the pressure applyinoperation to firmly set thewadhesively secured flaps.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the pressure {applying mechanism includes 'arotatable dlsc ';I00, upon which the bottomof :the carton is-arranged torest during the pressure applying operation, and a plurality ofvertically reciprocal plungers I82 arranged to enter successive cartons,and, in cooperation with the rotatable disc, effect substantial pressureagainst the adhesively sealed flaps. As herein shown, the disc I00 iskeyed to the hollow shaft 50, the hub I04 of the disc resting upon aflanged portion I06 of the hollow shaft, and the double sprocket 36bearing against the top of the disc, as shown in Fig. 2. Each plungermember IE2 is yieldingly mounted upon a stud Hi3 secured to a slidemember III] mounted'to reciprocate vertically in a. grooved supportingmember I I2. The supporting member H2 is 'attachedto a rotatable memberH4 fixed to the upper end 'of'thehollow shaft 50, and is rotata'bletherewith about the central stationary shaft 48'. A bushing I I6 isprovided for the upper end of the rotatable member H4, as shown.

Provision is made for reciprocating the plunger's Ill-2 in :timedrelation to the arrival of "suc- .cessive;1cartons to the pressureapplying mechanism, and, as herein shown, each slide member H0 isconnectedbya link H 8 to a-crank"arm I20 keyed'to a shaft I22 journalledin a hub I24 formed on the top 'of each'supporting member I- I2, Each:s'haft I22 is provided with a 'bevel gear I26, I26 fixed thereon and-,arranged to mesh "with 'a stationary bevel gear I28 keyed 'to thecentral stationary shaft 48. Wlth this construction it will be seenthat, in "operation, as the plunger units are rotated about the centralshaft 548 with the rotatable member "I'M, the bevel gears I26, 126' arerolled about the stationary bevel gear I28 to effect rotation 'o'f thecrank .arms I20 thus raising and lowerin the plunger members as'theyrarerevolved about the'central shaft. The centralsha'ftAB,*as3indi- .catedindotted'linesin "Fig. 2, is supported. at its upper end in a :bracket I30attached to "the .machine frame, I and, at its lower Tend, ismounted ina base member 132 forming part of the machine frame.

It will be fobs'erved thatalthough the-pitch diameters of thegears I26,'I26'yary in order to'fit them into the space available, they arearranged toengage' different 1 portions of the relatively wide .face ofiftlle stationary "gear I 2 8 so that, in oper- .ation, a ratio of onetoone may he maintained 'toefiect one complete revolution of each'ro'f theseveral crank arms I20 as the latter'arerevolved one revolution ab'outthcentral shaft. Inoper- 'ation and-as shown in Fig.2, aplungeri I02 isin.its raised position as it is revolved in'to'alignm'ent with an oncomingcarton and is gradually lowered into the carton until itengages'the'bottom thereof whereupon substantial pressureisbrought tobear "against "the bottom'flaps as the'plungers are yieldingly pressedthereagainst.

, 'Assliown in Fig. 2, theyieldablemountin'g"for each plunger I02comprises a coil spring I34 interpfosed between the top of the plunger:anil a nut and washer l 36m'ounted' on therod I 03. The plunger headI02 is vertically movable on therod ;I 08, and, as herein shown, islimited in its "outward-movement by the 'provisi'on'lof a collar 138 onthe rod I08 arran'gedtobeartagainst ashoulder I40 of a threaded memberI42 received :in the top of the plunger, as clearly illustrated in'crosssection in Fig. 2. A'set screw 'l ldprovided'in'the plunger headand arranged tobe projected into a longitudinalr'groove I46 provided inthe lower end of 'the rod, serves to :preverit frotatio'n iof theplunger head on its own axis. Thus, when 'l'the' plunger head is broughtinto engagement with the bottom of the carton, the downward stroke ofthe slide member H and rod N38 is continued, the overstroke being takenup by the yielding connection, and during the first part of theWithdrawing stroke -the pressure is continued until the limit ofextension of the head is reached, thus obtaining a relatively longperiod of compression during the continuous movement of the carton.

Thereafter, in the operation of the machine, the plunger is completelywithdrawn from the carton and the latter is discharged upon a rotatabledisc I48 and guided between rails I50, I52 onto an outgoing conveyerI54. As previously described, the movable side 22 of the pocket I2 isarranged-to be opened at the discharge station up on engagement of theroller 38 with the stationary cam piece 28 to permit the carton to bewithdrawn from the pocket 12 as it passes the discharge station 34.

From the description thus far it will be observed that in the operationof the machine, the flaps are sealed during the movement of the cartonthrough a straight path, while the application of pressure to the sealedflaps is caused to take place during the movement of the cartons througha curved path. In this manner ample time is afforded for proper settingof the sealed flaps, while permitting the machine to operate atrelatively high speed.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrierprovided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed tohold a carton with at least one set of end flaps extended, means forclosing and adhesively sealing said end flaps, and means for applyingsubstantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps to firmly set thesame including a reciprocal member adapted to enter a carton while thelatter is supported in said continuously moving pocket and to exertsubstantial pressure upon said sealed flaps.

2. In a packaging machine, in combination, continuously moving cartonsupporting means arranged to support a carton with at least one set offlaps extended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, andmeans for applying substantial pressure to said a-dhesively sealed flapsto firmly set the same, including a presser member arranged to enter acarton while the latter is supported in said continuously moving cartonsupporting means,

3. In a packagin machine. in combination, a continuously moving carrierprovided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed tohold a carton with at least one set of flaps extended, means for closingand adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applying substantialpressure to said adhesively sealed flaps to firmly set the samecomprising a vertically reciprocal member arranged to enter a cartonwhile supported in said continuously moving pocket and a continuouslymoving supporting member cooperating with said vertically reciprocalmember to perform the pressure applying operation,

4. In a packaging machine, in combination, a moving carrier providedwith a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructed to hold acarton with at least one set of its flaps extended,

means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means forapplying substantial pressure'to'said adhesively sealed flaps to firmlyset the same comprising a presser member arranged to engage the innersurface of the sealed carton flaps and to move along with the cartonwhile the latter is supported in said moving pocket and a movingsupporting member cooperating with said presser member to perform thepressure applying operation, said presser member and said supportingmember being mounted for relative movement to effect the pressureapplying operation.

5. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrierprovided with a plurality of carton holding pockets, each constructedtohold a carton with at least one set of its flaps extended, means forclosing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and-means for applyingsubstantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps including aplurality of vertically reciprocal members arranged to enter successivecartons and to move along therewith to perform the pressure applyingoperation.

6. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrierprovided with a plurality of carton holding pockets each constructed tohold a carton with at least one set of its flaps extended, means forclosing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applyingsubstantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps to firmly set thesame including a plurality of vertically reciprocal and revolublymounted plungers arranged to enter successive cartons held in saidcontinuously moving pockets and to move along therewith during thepressure applying operation,

'7. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously movingcarrier provided with a plurality of carton holding pockets eachconstructed to hold a carton with at least one set of its flapsextended, means for closing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and meansfor applying substantial pressure to said adhesively sealed flaps tofirmly set the same including a plurality of vertically reciprocal andrevolubly mounted plungers arranged to enter successive cartons held insaid continuously moving pockets and to move along therewith during thepressure applying operation and a rotatable flap supporting membercooperating with said revolubly mounted plungers.

8. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carrierprovided with a plurality of carton holding pockets each constructed tohold a carton with at least one set of its flaps extended, means forclosing and adhesively sealing said flaps, and means for applyingsubstantial pressure to said adhesively sealed bottom flaps to firmlyset the same including a plurality of vertically reciprocal andrevolubly mounted plungers arranged to enter successive cartons held insaid continuously moving pockets and to move along therewith during thepressure applying operation and a rotatable flap supporting membercooperating with said revolubly mounted plungers, said plungers and saidsupporting member being mounted for relative yielding movement wherebyto permit the application of pressure to be maintained for a relativelylong period of time.

9. In a packaging machine, in combination, a continuously moving carriermounted to move in a straight path during one part of its movement andin a curved path during another part of its movement, said carrierprovided with a :biurality :of canton-moldinggpozkets 6011?- structdit'o hold a, coat-ton "with :at sleast one Feet "of itsriiaps extien'zled,. -xneam's:ior tbiosingzaiid-zaii- .hesively sealing said flaps"while 117118383111 :mnier is "traveling, the straight portion o'f itsgmth, andimean's for ioon-tinuouslysapplyin g FsfibStantiQI pressure tosaid l'zidhesivetrsealingifiaps for jaxsub- 'stantial 'period .of :timeto :fnmly :set the s'am'e while sa-id carrier isztravelinguthrough:saidicurved portion 10f 'its path. i

10. In-a packagingirxfa'chizre,:in'comlainzatidn, a,continuouslymovingcarrierszmounteditomovein a straight path during onepart of its movement and in "a curved math-during another Zpant ='of itsmovement said carrieriprovitied with a plura'lity of 'cajrton holdingpockets .EaZGh iconstr'u'ct'ed. 170 11016 a carton "with at least e'oneset df "its ifia'p's 'extende'd, means for .closfng'andzadhesively sealing esaid flaps whire' the :said carrier is 1' traveling in'thezstraight'portion (if fits pat'h;an'drmeans for :structemtohold-.aicarton" with at least zoneuset its fflaps *exten'ded, m'eans'for closing and TfidhG? sively "sealing said flaps-while the; saidcar'rierfis travelingrin the straight portioncof-itsjapathxand means 1for applying substantial -pressure to said adhesivesealing'iiapstofirmly-set thei samewhiie said carrier is traveling throughsaidccurvedcpor tion'of it's :path,isaid: pressure"applyin-gmeanxineluding two "cooperating relatively movabiewressermembers disposed to engage-opposed .511!- faces o'fsai'dfs'ettifssealedsfiaps;said:presserm'xmbers being" mounted to move with thecarton in said -curved path.

- STANLEY-R. 'HOWKRD.

